Chris is a life-long musician with a true love of craft.
It started out with home improvement projects: refinishing judges paneling and furniture, rebuilding a staircase, building cabinet and shelving storage, and lots of painting! Each new piece is a chance to explore new techniques, work with great tools, and think about the best new life for something old. I seek out special pieces to bring back to life, and can do the same for your cherished family treasures.
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A careful approach
to each project
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Each piece of furniture calls for its own approach. The more unique the piece (or the better condition), the less reinvention needs to be applied. Sometimes a ‘found’ piece is in poor condition, but calls out for special treatment - a new color scheme, some distinctive hardware, or other touch. There's always a balance between the voice of the piece and your sense of taste.
Cleaning and Polishing
It’s often surprising how much difference a good cleaning and polishing with the right products can do. This is always the first step to determining what more needs to be done.
Repairing Structural Issues
If the piece isn’t functioning as it should as furniture, it’s crucial that things be made right, preferably without altering the original structure. Sometimes it’s just a missing block of wood or a loose piece of hardware.
The Finish
Is the finish close to the original? Is there missing veneer or are there deep stains in the wood? Most issues can be addressed, and we can talk about how much effort each element will cost in time and effort.
Care and Feeding
Wood can dry out and become brittle and dull. Often, simple treatment with beeswax solutions can begin to bring it back to life. Whatever work is done, we’ll give you some ideas about how to care for your piece going forward.
True (re)Imagination
Sometimes, the work required to truly restore something would be prohibitively expensive relative to its value (sentimental or otherwise). In these cases, a radical reimagination can give it an entirely new look.
Call a Friend
Leaving your cherished piece with me is an act of trust. We’ll be in communication at every step, and I’m also privileged to have working relationships with some of the most experienced restoration professionals in the business.